I am LOVING Ohio!!

We go to the YMCA a few times a week. My two favorite classes are pilates and yoga. I just tried the boot camp on Friday, which was the longest 45 minutes of my LIFE. I haven't been that out of breath in a long time. My heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest.

I was looking forward to going to the outside swimming pool at the Y every day this summer and much to my disappointment it has mostly been cloudy and raining the past TWO months. There is a sunny day here and there but overall it is mostly cloudy. :/ I feel bad for complaining about too much rain because I know that there are places that are experiencing a sever drought. On that note though...the days that we have gone to the pool, I have accumulated a nice tan. I haven't had a tan in exactly 8 years so I am thoroughly enjoying some color. :-D

The kids all took swimming classes and Ethan is doing really well!! I think he'll be swimming sooner than later. I'll probably be signing up the older two for swimming classes again to keep the momentum going.

Kyra took an art class at the Y when we first got here. I was hoping that it would be more advanced than it was but she still enjoyed it (who wouldn't like to play with paint and colors for a full hour?!). I know she is only 5 1/2, but I see some serious art potential in Kyra and I want to cultivate that. I'd like to get her private lessons so she really grow in that area. Looking back, I sure wish I had taken some serious art classes when I was younger. I feel like that is one thing that I KNOW I have a gift in. Taking an art class is on my bucket list.

Very much enjoying our new ward. My new calling is Young Women Mia Maid Adviser. I teach the lesson every Sunday (except for the 1st Sunday of the month because someone in the YW Presidency will teach). I've actually only have taught three times, even though I have had the calling for about two months now. Teaching...is my greatest fear/weakness. I am not one to just stand at the front of a class and just talk. I admire people who are able to do that! No, I read the lesson word for word and glance up every now and then. I have got to overcome this fear of teaching. It is paralyzing. I think it would definitely help if I prepared the lesson DURING the week and worked on it a little bit each day, instead of waiting until Saturday night...or Sunday morning...I set the alarm at 5:30 am to study my lesson but I kept hitting snooze until about 6:45. It was miserable. I do not suggest ever doing that. "When ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"....right!?! (P.S. I don't got to the activities on Wednesday evenings because I'd have to take the three kids with me because Justin works late...and I will *not* do that. It wouldn't be fun for anybody. This week though is a swimming activity at someones house...and I may just break my no-kids-at-activities rule for this one). ;)

Speaking of being terrified of giving lessons, we were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting and of course I panicked about it the two weeks prior and of course I didn't prepare till the next day. To make it worse, I had prepared but when I went to bed Saturday night I felt like something was missing from my talk. I didn't feel that it was complete. Woke up the next morning and sure enough...God had another talk in mind that he wanted me to give instead. My topic was marriage and families and I was going to focus strengthening marriages but the talk I gave instead was a more serious nature called Fortify Your Homes Against Evil by Spencer W. Kimball. I pretty much read the talk word for word. ONE DAY I am going to get up and give a talk/lesson without ANY notes whatsoever and just 100% rely on the Spirit. Talk about a HUGE leap of faith that will be!

Flying out to Utah in August for Education Week (less than a month away). Still need to buy the plane ticket....but I AM going. I am excited to hang out with my parents and see two of my sisters that live there. I am also hopping to meet up with a lot of friends that I have meet on Facebook. It'll be fun to connect in real life!! Education Week is Monday through Friday and then on Saturday Breeana is going to drive from Idaho and we will spend the day at the Lagoon (theme part outside of Salt Lake City). Very much looking forward to this spiritual boost. I want to take as many classes as I am physically and mentally able to. I want to soak it up as much as I possibly can!

Kyra learned how to ride a bike a few weeks ago! She begged me to take off her training wheels one day and so I did. She got on the bike and literally took off! I didn't help her AT all! I was shocked. Kyra is so eager to grow and learn. I fear that I hold her back more often than not. I just pray that I can help her to grow and not stump her growth due to my fear of teaching (yes...the fear of teaching even applies to teaching my kids the most basic things. When I feel like I am in a "teaching" moment, I instantly mentally freeze up).

MY NEW MOTTO

 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27

AND THIS

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13